PARK ENRICHMENT GRANTS

Safeguard Resources

California’s state parks contain an amazing diversity of natural wonders and cultural and historic treasures. It is our responsibility to safeguard and preserve these priceless resources for generations to come.

Fall 2016 Grant Awardees

CENTRAL COAST STATE PARKS ASSOCIATION
for Pismo State Beach

The Central Coast State Parks Association is placing educational panels throughout Pismo State Beach, informing visitors of the impacts of trash as a pollutant, as well as its effects on wildlife and the ecosystem. Through education and outreach, park staff and volunteers will reduce the amount of trash pollution that ends up on the beach, in the ocean, and in nearby creeks.

“Our CSPF grant funds will be used for interpretive panels at various restroom locations throughout Pismo State Beach. Most of the funding will go towards panel production and the remainder will go towards our printed trash bags to hand out to visitors within the park. This program helps us reduce trash on our beaches and throughout our parks.”- Mallory Claassen, Interpreter, California Department of Parks and Recreation

The Elkhorn Slough Foundation, with community volunteers, is restoring a half acre of sand dune and marsh habitat at Moss Landing State Park, as well as engaging community partners and school groups in the restoration efforts. At organized workdays, volunteers and local students will restore habitat by removing weeds, collecting seeds, and planting an anticpated 600 plants at the park.

"Moss Landing State Beach is perhaps the most visited public park in the Elkhorn Slough Watershed, providing Californians with a special opportunity to experience the Elkhorn Slough. Visitors can view sea otters, seals, birds and other marine wildlife while recreating amongst some of California's rarest habitats. The Elkhorn Slough Foundation is pleased to partner with California State Parks and California State Parks Foundation to ensure that visitors have high-quality access that the habitats and wildlife are healthy, and that underserved local youth are able to experience their local gems."- Katie Pofahl, Outreach Coordinator, Elkhorn Slough Foundation

Trails through Trione-Annadel State Park have eroded in recent years. The Annadel Trail Project is an effort of the Sonoma County Trails Council, in partnership with local schools and community groups, for an ongoing stewardship program to repair and maintain a favorite park trail. At organized events, volunteers are rehabilitating the park’s 3.5 mile Canyon-Spring Creek loop.

“This partnership engages the local community to encourage stewardship and provide assistance with maintenance of park trails. This collaboration not only protects the park's resources and improves the trails, it provides an opportunity for teens and young adults to experience the joys of volunteerism and demonstrates that big problems can be solved with cooperation and community support.”- Ken Wells, Executive Director, Sonoma County Trails Council

Several years ago at Sinkyone Wilderness State Park, there was a surge in unpermitted group gatherings, illegal camping, and off-road vehicle activities. To address these issues and develop a long term sustainable plan for the park, the Humboldt Redwoods Interpretive Association, along with visitors, park staff, local businesses, community groups, and residents are working together develop a long-term vision for the park and the steps necessary to achieve it.

“Humboldt Redwoods Interpretive Association and the North Coast Redwoods District, Eel River Sector is very committed to the Usal Committee’s efforts to restore and revitalize Usal Beach, Campground and Trails. We look forward to working with the local community and its Usal Committee stakeholder organizations in writing the implementation plan to conduct this important work.”- Carla Thomas, Board Officer, Humboldt Redwoods Interpretive Association

The Bear Yuba Land Trust, along with Empire Mine State Historic Park, is completing a long-term bird monitoring station in the Bennett Street Grasslands, a site that has experienced significant human impact yet serves as a vibrant wildlife habitat. The project will also bring together students and the local community to participate in monitoring the habitat and bird populations. These citizen science efforts will provide a dynamic opportunity for environmental education, volunteer engagement, and conservation training.

“This CSPF Park Enrichment Grant will help us get a Bird Monitoring Program at Empire Mine State Historic Park off the ground! Birds in the Sierra Foothills region face ever-increasing challenges from development pressures, habitat alteration, and climate change, so it is essential that we study long-term changes in their populations and educate residents about birds and their conservation. Thank you so much to CSPF for making this possible!”- Allison Nelson, Bear Yuba Land Trust Biologist

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
for Cuyamaca Rancho State Park

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park has some of the highest rates of oak tree mortality due to the invasive gold-spotted oak borer beetle. Funding will support an extensive study examining bird, butterfly, and small mammal populations, as well as oak tree health, and a survey of the invasive pest itself. This research will inform future natural resource management and protection strategies throughout San Diego County and Southern California.

“Having support from California State Parks Foundation is essential for our research. In addition to the generous financial and logistical support, this project would not be possible without the expertise of Park environmental scientists. We are very excited to begin our field work during the spring and summer of 2017.”- Eric Wood, Assistant Professor of Ecology, California State University, Los Angeles

FRIENDS OF SANTA CRUZ STATE PARKS
for Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park

The Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park is home to the oldest building in Santa Cruz County. The entire adobe building was restored in 1991, and as part of that project, the adobe block floors were reconstructed based on the original construction. Over the past 25 years these reconstructed adobe have deteriorated. To protect the adobe block floors at the park and preserve this historical treasure, Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks is installing wooden platforms in three rooms in the adobe.

“We are so grateful to the California State Parks Foundation for supporting the restoration of the adobe block floors in the Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park. This building, originally housing Neophyte families under the Mission system, is the only building of its kind preserved as a museum in the State and tells the important stories of the Ohlone and Yokuts Indians at the Mission.”- Peg Danielson, Operations Director, Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks

Spring 2016 Grant Awardees

Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association will purchase two Global Positioning System (GPS) units to preserve Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve and Bodie State Historic Park for future generations to come. Through mapping of park boundaries, exotic and/or invasive species, critical wetland habitats, bird nesting areas and archeological artifacts, valuable information will be available to assist with the long term resource protection of these parks.

"We are excited to receive funding to purchase these GPS units. They will enable us to do a never before completed exotic species assessment of state park lands within the State Natural Reserve in the Mono Basin. We simply cannot do this work at the present time with available resources." - Dave Marquart, State Park Interpreter, Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve

English ivy have infested the forests at Trinidad State Beach. Preservation of this park will be achieved with education of the local community of the impacts of invasive, non-native plants and removal of non-native species at organized volunteer restoration where English ivy will be removed by volunteers and the California Conservation Corp.

CONCERNED RESOURCE & ENVIRONMENTAL WORKERS
for Emma Wood State Beach

Connecting the next generation stewards to the outdoors and state parks through park restoration, Concerned Resource & Environmental Workers with local partners is completing the restoration of the Lower Ventura River along the southern edge of Emma Wood State Beach. This project will engage low-income local youth employees and community volunteers in the stewardship of a healthy watershed.

The CREW is delighted to receive this grant from the California State Parks Foundation for continuing work along the Ventura River at Emma Wood State Beach. The use of this grant will enable us to restore a greenbelt and trail network that will reconnect the west side community of Ventura to open space along the lower Ventura River and the ephemeral trails of Emma Wood.-William Murphy, Concerned Resource & Environmental Workers Executive Director

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